Statebreds in them to win them

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - If TGIF works for Fridays, then TGFNY (Thank God for New York-breds) applies to the two open allowance races on Thursday's card at Aqueduct. Statebreds make up more than 50 percent of the entries in the two races.

Of the six fillies and mares in the third race, an optional claimer with two-other-than allowance conditions at six furlongs, Nevaeh, Tax the Queen, and Sweet Sweet are New York-breds. Sweet Sweet may vie for favoritism with the Anthony Dutrow-trained entry of Bless My Mary and Mint Landing.

, trained by Mike Hushion, won the first three starts of her career, capped by a mild upset in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park last May. She returned from a layoff in January and suffered her first career defeat, breaking awkwardly and running fifth as the 2-1 favorite in a second-level allowance.

Bless My Mary and Mint Landing have flourished since being taken over by Dutrow last summer at Delaware Park.

was claimed for $25,000 last July and has won 4 of 5 starts since adding blinkers, the victories coming at four different racetracks under varying pace scenarios. Her only loss for Dutrow came in the Squan Song Stakes at Laurel.

Bless My Mary, a nose winner of a $25,000 claiming race in her local bow, is the lone entrant in for the optional $35,000 price.

ran second in six of her first seven starts for Dutrow, including runner-up finishes in entry-level allowance company in her first two starts at Aqueduct this winter. She finally broke through with a win at that level last time out, and now concedes weight to the others while stepping up in class.

The eighth race is an entry-level allowance at one mile, and five of the nine older males entered are New York-breds, including probable favorite Rhumjar.

Rhumjar has not won this winter, but has run the three best Beyer Speed Figures of his career since being claimed for $25,000 by Gary Contessa back on Jan. 5.

The New York-bred Hunter's Tale, part of the Leah Gyarmati-trained entry along with Southack, is a three-time winner on the inner track and the only other member of the field besides Rhumjar to have run a Beyer of 90.